Mohave County miner., 1887-05-21
AUSTRALIAN SLAVES.
A SYSTEM or BONDAGE WHICH Ex-
s., IsTs IN ENGLISH TERRITORY.

The Facts a. Presented by . Missionary.
The Method Of Procuring the Slaves.
Kidnapped and Cruelty Treat.d-Death
Punishment,
The English government, which has a.
ways stood as the foremost power In demand
ing the abolition Of slavery and the slave
trade, Is now brought face TO face with the
fact that the natives of western Australia are
subjected by the queens subjects 70 system
of involuntary servitude, which Is character
lied by all the horrors Of slavery az practiced
In barbarous countries. This Is no news TO
the average traveller In Australia, but the
officials Of Great Britain seem 10 hare been
In complete ignorance until the Aborfgines
Protection society, Of London, after learning
the facts from the Rev. Mr.. Gribbis, q mis-
sionary 10 the natiyes, laid them before Lord
Granville, and an investigation is now being
made, with view 20 taking some action
toward protecting tho natives from their
cruel tasismasterz.
THE sYsTEA on BONDAGE.
The slavery Of the western Australians =
founded on the ignorance OF the natives and
the power and disposition Of the whites 10
take advantage OF IL. As a matter Of fact
tstFe dst I'D bLdFts IiB tue CDlOuf III Siie bcSxpD
IN which they existed IA this country before
the war. No native Is absolutely owned In
fee simple by his master, but the system of
bondage is 50 well perfected that very few,
If any, Of the victims ever regain their fros-
dom 50 long as they are able 70 work foe
their temporary owners. In this respect the
system Is more brutal than actual slavery,
because the owners Of slaves we're bound 10
AZ
ness made them yalneless as laborers, whilo
the Australian STAKEHOLDER may, and does,
turn his wrctchcd bondsnan loose TO starve
and die IS soon as he ~ unable TO perform his
allotted task. 1t Is a bondage In which tho
master has all the benefits, with absolutely
20 responsibility attached.
The method Of procuring thess slaves Is
simple but effective. The settler who desires
the labor Of a nsdye man, woman or child
draws up q paper ia which the native Is made
10 say that be offers himself for employment
for q certain period. The master signs this
document, and the native makes his cross In
presence OF a policeman, SEd the thing Is
done. From that time the native Is as really
a slave as though his master owned him body
and soul He Is generally ignorant OF the
contents Of the paper Wish be has signed" !"
Tut IL places MN dDSDIusSaS III AIlc power VI
his master 10 do with him as be pleases dur
| ing the term Of the assignment" and at iss
close be Is frightened into signing again.
KIDNAPPING THE NATIVES.
! Most OF the natives thus assigned are Kid
! mapped and brought in from tho interior, and
! when once they have made the cross, whose
significance they do not appreciate, they are
| held by the magistrates ~ subject to tho
masters and servants act of Great Britain,
| and punished under its provisions il they run
! away, although the law was never intended
/ 70 apply to barbarous people.
| Mr. Gribble relates many instances Of the
| crueities practiced on the Australian slaves,
! of the manner in which they are loaded with
chains for trivial oifenses, end Of the iDdigni-
! tics which are heaped upon the women and
! girls. Most OF the slaves are used in work.
| Ing the pearl fisheries, and the punishment
| for stealing pearls Is In many cascs instant
death, the master acting as judge, counsel
| and Jury. In one day sixty OF the unfortu-
( nates-iaen, women and children--wero thus
| summarily executed, aud often the natives
are shot for running away. Men make .
regular business Of kidnapping the natives for
assignment, all the horrors OF the African
! slave trade are revived ON n smaller scale In
! western Australia. The Aborigines Protec-
ton society makes strong appeal 70 the
| British government 70 put an end 10 this un-
| holy traffic in human bodies, and Great Brit
ain can hardly neglect the appeal Chicago
! Tirnca